In the quiet town of York, South Carolina, a story of love turned to tragedy unfolded, culminating in the death of 35-year-old Thomas Hardin. A Black transgender woman, Hardin was known by friends for her wit and ability to make people laugh. She was comfortable with both male and female pronouns and, according to those who knew her, 'didn't care' which were used.
On the evening of Sunday, May 2, 2021, concern grew among Hardin's loved ones when she couldn't be reached throughout the
day. A request for a well-being check brought a police officer to her home on Lowry Row just after 8:30 p.m. The officer found the front door slightly ajar and, upon entering, discovered Hardin unresponsive on the floor. Despite the officer's attempts at CPR and the arrival of paramedics, she was pronounced dead at the scene. While officials did not immediately release a cause of death, friends and neighbors reported that she had been shot. The suspicious nature of the circumstances prompted police to launch a homicide investigation.
The investigation soon zeroed in on a former romantic partner, Tyler Terry. According to friends, Hardin had provided Terry with a place to live, but the relationship soured, and she had put him out of her house months before her death. In the time that followed, Terry allegedly sent threatening messages to Hardin. Despite the concerns of her friends for her safety, Hardin reportedly said she was not afraid of him.
Authorities alleged that Terry did not act alone. His accomplice was identified as Adrienne Simpson. Investigators believe Simpson drove the getaway car on the night of Hardin's murder. Both Terry and Simpson were also implicated in the disappearance and death of Simpson's husband, Eugene Simpson, who went missing on the same day Hardin was killed. After a week-long search, law enforcement apprehended Terry, whom one sheriff described as 'as violent of a person as I've ever encountered.' Simpson was also taken into custody. Terry was subsequently charged with Hardin's murder, and Simpson was charged as an accessory after the fact.
